Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp

Eastern cicada killer wasps emerge during mid to late summer. Females remain active for approximately two months during which time they will dig a burrow in well-drained, light-textured soil in full sunlight. At the end of each burrow, an individual female will create three to four cells in which she will later place her eggs. Once cells have been constructed, females leave to hunt cicadas by sight, often capturing them in mid-flight. Once caught, the female will sting the cicada, paralyzing it and then fly it back to the burrow. She will lay one egg on her prey and place both in each cell of the burrow. After two to three days, eggs hatch and the larvae feed on the paralyzed cicada provided.